Small mammal communities and habitat selection in Northern Rocky Mountain bunchgrass: Implications for exotic plant invasions

Citation
De. Pearson et al., Small mammal communities and habitat selection in Northern Rocky Mountain bunchgrass: Implications for exotic plant invasions, NW SCI, 75(2), 2001, pp. 107-117
Citations number
65
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
NORTHWEST SCIENCE
ISSN journal
0029344X → ACNP
Volume
75
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
107 - 117
Database
ISI
SICI code
0029-344X(200121)75:2<107:SMCAHS>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
Agriculture and development have dramatically reduced the range of native b unchgrass habitats in the Northern Rocky Mountains, and the invasion of exo tic plants threatens to greatly alter the remaining pristine prairie. Small mammals play many important roles in ecosystem functions, but little is kn own about small mammal community composition and structure in native bunchg rass habitats of the Northern Rocky Mountains. We live trapped small mammal s along transects to study community composition, relative abundance, and h abitat relationships in three native bunchgrass sites of west-central Monta na. Small mammal community composition and relative abundance were consiste nt among sites, with deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) dominating, followe d by montane voles (Microtus montanus), which were uncommon, and montane sh rews (Sorex monticolus). which were rare. Deer mice and montane voles exhib ited complementary habitat separation. Deer mice tended to select open micr osites and avoid sires with high percentages of vegetative cover. Male and female deer mice demonstrated strong habitat separation at two sites, but t he habitat variables partitioned between sexes differed by site. Montane vo les avoided open sites and selected for concave microsites where the vegeta tive cover was relatively dense. This information provides an important bas eline for understanding pre-settlement small mammal communities in the rapi dly dwindling, native bunchgrass habitats of the Northern Rocky Mountains.